Anyone know of a great "low-profile" tripod?

Brad Vaughan · June 4th, 2008, 08:39 PM

I have a nice regular tripod (503HDV,351MVB2K), but would love to have one for filming low to the ground as well.

Any suggestions?

Bill Pryor · June 4th, 2008, 10:00 PM

You mean a hi hat?
http://search.store.yahoo.com/cgi-bin/nsearch

Tripp Woelfel · June 6th, 2008, 08:29 PM

Try this: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...29_Hi_Hat.html

Andrew Hoag · June 9th, 2008, 07:52 PM

Today I purchased a Miller Safari tripod. I hadn't heard of it before, but was looking for something cheap(er) with a fluid head. Came across this badboy for 400, and got the price down to 350 for buying it on the spot. It's got a 55mm bowl head, and is incredibly smooth. The greatest part, it has angle locking legs so you can literally lay the tripod to the ground and get the low shots you need. Payload is 11 lbs, weighs about 8 lbs itself. Have a look...

http://safaritripod.com/

Very pleased with it, I recommend.

Mark Williams · June 9th, 2008, 08:20 PM

If you want to go on the cheap then use your 503 head with the 3221 legs.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...arch&Q=*&bhs=t
I also use the half/ball leveler #3502 between the legs and head. I know it shows a center column but you can remove that and it includes a short plug adapter for the head. Goes down to 3.5 inches plus the height of the head.

Peter Rhalter · June 9th, 2008, 08:26 PM

Andrew,
I'm curious what makes you think this tripod is from Miller? I don't see anything about Miller on the Safari website, or in the instruction manual. The head greatly resembles the 717A fluid Head from Weifeng, which is available on eBay. Who makes it isn't as important as whether it works well; I'm glad to hear it operates smoothly.
Best,
Peter
www.parkfilms.com

Andrew Hoag · June 9th, 2008, 08:30 PM

Good call,

I realized that after I posted. The vendor I bought it from (Washington Professional Systems [www.wpsworld.com] ) mentioned to me that Safari is a sub-section of Miller. I spoke out of context, apologies.

Bob Magill · June 10th, 2008, 03:40 PM

The Gitzo GT3540XLS tripod can do ground level work and works great with the manfrotto 3502 leveler and Gitzo G2180 Head makes a great lightweight
tripod at about 7.5 lbs.

Peter Rhalter · June 11th, 2008, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Magill

The Gitzo GT3540XLS tripod can do ground level work and works great with the manfrotto 3502 leveler and Gitzo G2180 Head makes a great lightweight
tripod at about 7.5 lbs.

My pet peeve with the G2180 is its lack of a bubble level. I find it awkward to level a tripod without one. Otherwise its a really nice mini fluid head.

Best,
Peter

Chris Barcellos · June 11th, 2008, 02:24 AM

Here is 503 with the Manfrotto 3221, with post pulled for lowest level capability.

Giroud Francois · June 11th, 2008, 12:06 PM

weifeng has a lot of tripods from ultracheap to mid-expensive. (in the e-image serie)
take a look on their website, you will probably find the safari twin brother
http://www.weifengchina.com/pro/index.asp?page=1&id=135

Bill Busby · June 11th, 2008, 12:53 PM

I read in one of the trade magazines a while back that the Chinese knockoffs really do a good job cosmetically cloning other makers tripods, but it said that's about where it ends. Functional-wise you might be disappointed.

I'm not saying this particular company... just in general. Just a heads up :)

Giroud Francois · June 11th, 2008, 04:34 PM

got a EI717 for $140, looks like a $600+ tripod, put my FX1 on it... and it doesn't fall (yet).
admittedly, yes it is just a bunch of tubes painted in black. but at that price , i am happy.

June 4th, 2008, 08:39 PM	#1
Brad Vaughan Major Player Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Va Beach, Va Posts: 242	Anyone know of a great "low-profile" tripod? I have a nice regular tripod (503HDV,351MVB2K), but would love to have one for filming low to the ground as well. Any suggestions?

June 9th, 2008, 07:52 PM	#4
Andrew Hoag Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Gaithersburg, MD Posts: 47	Miller Safari Today I purchased a Miller Safari tripod. I hadn't heard of it before, but was looking for something cheap(er) with a fluid head. Came across this badboy for 400, and got the price down to 350 for buying it on the spot. It's got a 55mm bowl head, and is incredibly smooth. The greatest part, it has angle locking legs so you can literally lay the tripod to the ground and get the low shots you need. Payload is 11 lbs, weighs about 8 lbs itself. Have a look... http://safaritripod.com/ Very pleased with it, I recommend.

June 9th, 2008, 08:20 PM	#5
Mark Williams Major Player Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 659	If you want to go on the cheap then use your 503 head with the 3221 legs. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...arch&Q=*&bhs=t I also use the half/ball leveler #3502 between the legs and head. I know it shows a center column but you can remove that and it includes a short plug adapter for the head. Goes down to 3.5 inches plus the height of the head. __________________ Mark Williams web: www.natureflixs.com

June 9th, 2008, 08:26 PM	#6
Peter Rhalter Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 165	Miller? Andrew, I'm curious what makes you think this tripod is from Miller? I don't see anything about Miller on the Safari website, or in the instruction manual. The head greatly resembles the 717A fluid Head from Weifeng, which is available on eBay. Who makes it isn't as important as whether it works well; I'm glad to hear it operates smoothly. Best, Peter www.parkfilms.com

June 11th, 2008, 02:24 AM	#10
Chris Barcellos Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Elk Grove CA Posts: 3,740	Here is 503 with the Manfrotto 3221, with post pulled for lowest level capability. Attached Thumbnails __________________ Chris J. Barcellos

June 4th, 2008, 10:00 PM	#2
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 3,250	You mean a hi hat? http://search.store.yahoo.com/cgi-bin/nsearch

June 6th, 2008, 08:29 PM	#3
Tripp Woelfel Major Player Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: North Conway, NH Posts: 645	Try this: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...29_Hi_Hat.html __________________ Tripp Woelfel

June 9th, 2008, 08:30 PM	#7
Andrew Hoag Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Gaithersburg, MD Posts: 47	Good call, I realized that after I posted. The vendor I bought it from (Washington Professional Systems [www.wpsworld.com] ) mentioned to me that Safari is a sub-section of Miller. I spoke out of context, apologies.

June 10th, 2008, 03:40 PM	#8
Bob Magill Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Fort Lauderdale, Florida Posts: 42	The Gitzo GT3540XLS tripod can do ground level work and works great with the manfrotto 3502 leveler and Gitzo G2180 Head makes a great lightweight tripod at about 7.5 lbs.

June 11th, 2008, 12:06 PM	#11
Giroud Francois Trustee Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: switzerland Posts: 1,511	weifeng has a lot of tripods from ultracheap to mid-expensive. (in the e-image serie) take a look on their website, you will probably find the safari twin brother http://www.weifengchina.com/pro/index.asp?page=1&id=135

June 11th, 2008, 12:53 PM	#12
Bill Busby Major Player Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 784	I read in one of the trade magazines a while back that the Chinese knockoffs really do a good job cosmetically cloning other makers tripods, but it said that's about where it ends. Functional-wise you might be disappointed. I'm not saying this particular company... just in general. Just a heads up :)

June 11th, 2008, 04:34 PM	#13
Giroud Francois Trustee Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: switzerland Posts: 1,511	got a EI717 for $140, looks like a $600+ tripod, put my FX1 on it... and it doesn't fall (yet). admittedly, yes it is just a bunch of tubes painted in black. but at that price , i am happy.

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